8 players who belong in the Carolina Panthers Hall of Shame

Greg Hardy – Former Carolina Panthers DE

• 2010-2014

There was once a time when Greg Hardy was one of the NFL’s most feared pass-rushers. The former sixth-round pick emerged from nowhere to enjoy two phenomenal seasons with the Carolina Panthers from 2012-13, but things didn’t go completely according to plan after that.

Hardy’s character concerns away from the gridiron were something that put pay to his career way ahead of time.

The former Ole Miss star was placed on the franchise tag after the 2014 season. But he played just one game that year and although he recorded a sack that took his tally to 34 in 40 starts, indiscretions kept creeping up that forced the Panthers to go in a different direction.

As is the case with players of Hardy’s caliber, he got another chance with the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal. However, this didn’t last long after a shocking video surfaced that sent shockwaves through the league and left the edge rusher black-balled as a result.

Hardy’s history of domestic violence was always going to catch up with him in the end. Simply put, he blew a big chance to become a true star and one of Carolina’s best-ever at the position.

Although his time in the league is over, Hardy is in the process of carving out something else for himself. He has picked up a couple of notable wins in the UFC in recent months, but whether this is going to be a springboard to bigger and better things in the mixed martial arts world remains to be seen.